TMC Transportation, Inc. - Des Moines, Ia.

Yeah a lot of the complaints are from people who just aren't cut out for this job.

I like driving. I am expecially liking being a part of the home depot dedicated division at TMC as I get home quite often.

A lot of the complaints do have some truth to them. A company with 2800 trucks does not always put YOU first. That is life. Also there are rules put in place by insurance companies, shippers, consignees, individual states, etc. The company tries to make policies that are not in violation of any of these stupid rules, so the blame doesn't always rest with the company.

 

chief : "they just come across as caring more about their trucks and equipment than they do their drivers."

- the trucks are prettier,, smarter, work harder and cost more then you.. why shouldnt they? I was actually briefed to care about my truck more then myself!

 

Every driver should have received a copy of the FMCSA handbook at some time before getting thier own truck, the problems arise because hardly anybody bothers to read it, if they would read it they would be able to avoid most of the crap because they would know what the law says, instead of depending on somebody else's information to guide them. Knowledge is power, read the book and know the rules, then the only problem is adjusting to the lifestyle.

 

Most of it is new drivers not knowing what they are getting into. True, some blame can be placed on companies, mainly for poor communication, possibly some for situations beyond their control, such as no loads, inexperienced dispatch personnel and the like.
I agree with the thought that so many people that get into this with a "fairy tale" idea that all you do is get up when you want, drive during the nice part of the day, drive to the consignee and get unloaded in fifteen minutes then go to bed. Then we drop and hook to another loaded trailer and start all over again. Wow. That sounds good!
Recruiters have a hand in this also. They will sell their soul to get a person to sign on the line. That also means they will tell you what you want to hear. Information is the key to finding quality drivers, and quality drivers finding good companies.
The more you know about ANYTHING the better prepared you will be to deal with all of the idiosyncrasies of the task.
Just my opinion. Not worth much, but it's mine

 

Most of these posts just prove how ignorant people actually are towards what it takes to operate a semi-truck. They think "I can make 1500 a week holding a steering wheel!?" And admittedly, recruiters, and schools will humor that idea to get their money, but it's just as much the fault of the person who is paying the money for the loan or making a career choice based on misinformation. Like the previous poster said, knowledge is power.

Admittedly, i thought that this job was going to be much easier than working as a supervisor in the steel industry, boy was i wrong. Fortunately i was raised to be a hard worker and do what i had to do... And i did it, i enjoy driving now and TMC has taken pretty good care of me. I am out there and talk to these other drivers. I used to be quite dissapointed with TMC until i started talking to US Express, Swift, and Werner drivers that were just outwright excited to bring home more than 500 dollars... I do that sleeping for 3 days out of the week. And i drive a nice truck.

And as far as the guy calling our trucks ancient goes.... We get new trucks every 350,000 miles.. I don't see how they can be ancient.. Ofcourse the TRAINING trucks are ancient, don't want rookies like you ruining the brand new ones.. haha

 

Anybody at TMC do Pre-Trip Inspections? Everyone in my school keep saying to expect to get in trouble for doing pre-trips when with my trainer. Also, to plan to take alot of 7 & half min. breaks, but log 15.

Every student in my class has been running into this problem with the companies they went to.

Just wondering what to expect

 

Actually never heard of any of that myself. Always pretrip and post trip the truck and ignore the trainer if he tells you otherwise.

 

I cannot comment on any other company other than TMC. TMC is the only trucking company I have worked for. On your last day of orientation you are given a sheet with every training goal you are expected to meet during the time out with your trainer. If you have a trainer who is training to help the trainee become a productive, safe driver he will make sure you meet and exceed all those goals.

You the trainee have the resposibility to meet those goals. You should be proactive. Take the initative and go down the list yourself and get the trainer to demonstrate and let you practice it. He may check off the item, but only you know if you are comfortable with it. If you are not do it again and again until you are.

Does everyone do a Pretrip Inspection each and every day. I doubt it. Should you, probably, by law you must. We drive and live in our truck 24 hours a day. We know when something is going wrong. We can tell by vibrations, sounds any number of thing clues us in. Even if we are not doing the PTI for 15 minutes in the morning we are constantly looking our truck, trailer and load over. Every time we stop we are checking. The intent of the law is to have safe equipment, no one is going to hold a gun to your head and make you do a PTI, but your equipment better be safe or suffer the consequences.

Occasionaly, I will play with my log book, trying to gain time by playing with 7 minutes. Usually, it just happens that way and I take advantage of it. At TMC you have to hustle, or you should hustle and slack off once you are at your consignee or in the area. Many things can go wrong during the day. You may think you have plenty of time, hours to spare and you get a flat. Because you didn't leave as early as your log book allowed not you are going to be 15 minutes late not an hour and a half early. Always, get the job done, then play. You will always have enough time to get to your Shipper or Consignee. If you don't just tell your Fleet Manager and he will take care of it. If it is your fault you are late, man up and tell your FM and don't let it happen again.

The gist of all this is to be responsible for your own training, make sure you are getting the training you deserve or call training and get another trainer.

 

a basic pre trip we all know is loged in at the dot minimum of15 minutes allthough it may take less dose any body know if we still have to do the 2hr strap chcks or did that change with hrs of service rule

 

I guess if I had to stop for a 7.5 minute pee break, I definitely wouldn't wait-out the whole 15 to get back on the hwy.

I've narrowed my choice down to TMC and one other; still deciding.